Morocco Expels Dutch Journalist Investigating Illegal Immigration and Rif Region

The Dutch journalist Gerbert van der Aa had to leave Morocco. He would have worked, without accreditation, on the subjects of illegal immigration, alcohol consumption and, more broadly, the situation in the Rif region.

The journalist had already been in Morocco for four days before being arrested and asked to leave the country because he was working there illegally. According to him, it is impossible to obtain a press accreditation if you are a foreign journalist. However, he himself admits to having previously worked in Morocco without a license.

According to the Dutch website NRC.Nl: "From the moment he arrived, he was followed, in his own words, by the Moroccan secret services".

The site nevertheless wishes to nuance this question of prior accreditation required: "you generally don’t need it (accreditation, editor’s note)". In the same vein, the Dutch journalist declares: "If you write about the beauty of Morocco, you don’t have to worry", then to continue: "They only ask for it when it suits them. And above all, you have to know that the Rif is now a forbidden area".

Van der Aa would currently be in the Spanish enclave of Melilla. He will take the boat on Monday afternoon towards Spain.